JThree decades later, John remembers those days fondly. “It was great living with nature,” he says, seated in the

screened porch of his brand new cottage, overlooking the very spot from which he spied his island Shangri-La so long ago.

In their first years on the island, Fred and his family stayed in a tiny cabin on the point while John, his wife, Christina, and their children Greg and Jenna slept in a bunkie. Later, John built a new place, a very simple, 800 sq. ft. post and beam cottage with three small bedrooms. During the 20 years that it lasted, the Newtons occasionally shared their little island home with squirrels and sometimes bats. Eventually, the roof caved in under the crushing weight of ice and snow. It was time to build again.

magicBY WALTER FRANCZYK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SANDY MACKAY

John Newton and his brother, Fred, were relaxing on the shore of Kahshe Lake 33 years ago when they saw someone nailing up a For Sale sign on Burnt Island. “We jumped into the boat and four days later it was ours,” says John. They bought eight-and-a-half acres on the island’s north shore.

ISLAND

LEFT: Holding his one-year-old grandson Mason, John Newton

enjoys his new island cottage with his family (from left) back

row, son, Greg, daughter, Jenna and daughter-in-law, Lindsay. In the front are grandsons Cole, 9,

Mitchell, 5, Austin, 5, and Max, 3. John’s wife, Christina, is absent

from this photo. The Maltese pups are Duke and Duchess. TOP

RIGHT: The Newtons will let nature be the gardener at their Burnt Island cottage. BOTTOM RIGHT: Grandsons Austin and

Cole like to play builder with scrap wood. They fashioned crosses

for the woods at the front of the cottage. OPPOSITE: The exterior deck that rims the front and side of the home is a welcoming spot

to enjoy the view of Kahshe Lake. Continued on page 57

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John and Christina interviewed a few contractors before hiring Lennie Construction, founded by Sandy Lennie in 1966. His son Adam Lennie, who has since started his own company, Building Muskoka, was general manager and designer. “We liked their ideas,” says John. “They’re hands on.” He describes Adam as meticulous, with a great eye for detail. “Adam was here every day and did a majority of the work,” he says. “When he said he was going to be here, he was here. He was done on time.”

With island access restricted during winter freeze-up and spring thaw, it took about a year to remove the old cabin and build the new 1,800 sq. ft. cottage. With three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a Muskoka room, it’s designed for strictly seasonal use. A wood-burning fireplace is the sole source of heat. Built on piers, the home has insulated walls and ceilings, but the floor is not insulated and plumbing is seasonal. John says he didn’t want to battle winter storms and treacherous road conditions to drive from his Oakville home to Kahshe Lake in the winter. For four months of the year, the ice between Burnt Island and the mainland is too thin for travel or just forming, he explains. “I didn’t want my family members risking their lives to get up here.” Investing in a full foundation and heating system just wasn’t worth it for the Newtons. They wanted a summer home. It had to have a screened porch, three reasonably-sized bedrooms and a great kitchen with plenty of space for family and visitors to congregate when preparing dinner. “We wanted it light and airy, with lots of windows,” says John.

A vaulted white pine ceiling makes the large, open concept living room even more spacious. OPPOSITE TOP: The wood-burning fireplace, with ledge rock installed by Muskoka Stone and Hearth Co., provides ample heat for the cottage. OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Quartz tops the kitchen counter and the island where the family gathers to prepare meals.

Continued on page 59

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Adam Lennie created exactly what they wanted. The living room, dining space, bar and kitchen form a large central room with a cathedral ceiling finished in white pine. Ora Kitchens teamed up with Euro-Line Appliances to craft the modern, high-efficiency kitchen. “The two of them just blended their work together with great ideas,” says John. The kitchen counter and large central island are topped with stain-proof and maintenance-free quartz. Convection and microwave ovens augment the energy-saving induction cooker. In the bar area, a wine fridge keeps favourite vintages cool and cabinetry conceals a water cooler. With no blinds or drapes, the room is suffused in natural light. “The kitchen is a dream,” says Christina. “Everyone wants to cook now.”

Like Christina, who furnished the cottage with antique dishes and art that belonged to previous generations, Lennie’s builders borrowed from the past.

OPPOSITE: Beams and boards from the old cottage play a new role as a rugged dinner table. LEFT: The view from the Newtons’ island dock. BELOW: John’s favourite room, the screened porch lets in summer’s warmth and fresh air while keeping out bugs and squirrels.

Continued on page 60

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They installed the claw foot tub and a pedestal sink from the old cottage in the master bedroom’s en suite bathroom. They painted the bottom of the tub black and raised it up, off the floor, to show off the look of the classic tub. They saved a thick wooden timber and polished it to serve as a mantel for the rock fireplace by Muskoka Stone & Hearth Co. A large piece of slate salvaged from the old cottage was placed on the wall to serve as a chalk board for family messages. “We wanted to keep a bit of the old with this new place,” says John. The tile work is Adam’s favourite part of the cottage. “The tiles were picked by the owner and I had them installed by Paul Babineau and Joel Livingston. Mixed with the stone work from the Muskoka Stone Company, it all really ties in well with the kitchen from Ora.”

Christina made dozens of shopping forays to find the furniture and accents for this new summer home. The staff at Trading Places Home Décor in Oakville, she says, was exceptionally helpful. “I love pieces I can

RIGHT: A four-poster from Trading Places Home Décor lends exotic ambience to the master bedroom. BOTTOM LEFT: The claw foot tub from the old cottage has a prominent new spot in the en suite bathroom. BOTTOM RIGHT: A pedestal sink was also saved and given new life in the en suite bathroom.

Continued on page 62

Adam Lennie705 - 644 - 1167

BuildingMuskoka@gmail.com

BUILDING MUSKOKA

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TOP: Amphibians and reptiles inhabit the motif of this bedroom. RIGHT: With a large, growing

family, the Newtons wanted enough space in each bedroom to hold a queen-size bed.

use anywhere,” she says. “The pine bench in the kitchen is perfect for the grandkids, all together at one time.” She says her favourite room is whatever room she is in at the time.

The screened porch, with its sunny, western exposure and lake view, is John’s favourite room. As the owner of an employee benefits consulting company, he can work from the cottage where he can sip coffee on the porch, check his e-mail, retrieve messages and return phone calls, then go for a walk in the woods, all before lunch. He and his family enjoy kayaking and canoeing, exploring the local farmers’ market or sailing on the RMS Seguin. “We just keep ourselves busy doing whatever we want to do.”

John’s brother, Fred, died in 2004 and left his cottage to his daughters Laura Halbert and Carol Newton Faulkner. They treasure their island home next door to John and Christina. “Like ourselves, Fred built the cottage with his daughters and grandchildren in mind,” says John. Laura has four children and Carol has three.

The Newtons’ fondest cottage memories are about their children growing up and enjoying their summers in a safe environment. “Family is everything,” John says. “Our kids got to know every other kid on the lake, they and their friends had a ball.” Now the next generation, five grandsons, are learning to love life on the lake. “It’s just great when the kids are running around,” John says. OH

www.muskokaballustradesinc.com

We have recently acquired 180 year old cedar which will be manufactured into solid reclaimed doors,

door frames and v-joints for closet walls etc.

Architectural elegance and superior craftsmanship are the hallmarks of this Muskoka cottage. The main cottage boasts stunning expansive views from all principal rooms.

There are cozy reading nooks, a screened in Muskoka room and a wrap around veranda to accommodate relaxed entertaining. This is a nicely maintained and handsomely furnished four bedroom “olde” Muskoka cottage with three baths, open living/dining area, warm basswood interior, hardwood floors, natural granite fireplace and an upgraded kitchen. An oversized “grandfathered” boathouse accommodates a fleet of boats including several extended slips to harbour the longer antique boats. A necessity for any serious vintage boat collector.

There is also the added benefit and enjoyment of entertainment and sleeping quarters above. A second two storey boathouse graces the western shoreline with open concept accommodations above and a single slip below. A sheer delight for your guests. Offered for sale at $2,995,000

Visit us at www.MuskokaGetaway.com

HEART OF BEAUMARIS - LAKE MUSKOKA

Chestnut Park Real Estate Ltd, Brokerage110 Medora Street, Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0 (705) 765.6878

SHARON HUNTER AIKENBroker

705.646.3116sharon@MuskokaGetaway.com

GEORGE AIKENSales Representative705.641.8888

george@MuskokaGetaway.com

TARA BILLINGTONSales Representative705.746.1983

tara@MuskokaGetaway.com

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